Cardiac conditions in the newborn

If the newborn you are assessing has a heart condition, you would expect to observe the following:

• diaphoresis (sweating), cool, moist skin

• pallor (pale, pasty skin)

• a mottled appearance to the skin, caused by prolonged capillary refill time (>2 seconds)

• central cyanosis

• difficulty feeding, due to intolerance of physical activity.

Structural problems are referred to as congenital heart conditions. A congenital condition is one you are born with. Examples of structural cardiac disease include problems relating to heart defects and defects of the blood vessels.

Some common examples of non-structural conditions relate to problems with heart function, the electrical activity in the heart and the presence of tumours.

Your task

Watch this short video, which will help you better understand congenital heart disease (CHD) and then post your comments below.

References

Kain, V. & Mannix, T. (2018). Neonatal Nursing in Australia and New Zealand, 1st Edition. Australia: Elsevier.